Connecter



@April 30, 192,9. R. B. zlEGLER CONNECTER Filed April 18, 1928 Patentes Apr. 3e, 19:29.

UNITED STA RALPH BQ'ZIEGLER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

Vcolmrzcrria.

, .Application filed April 18, 1928'.V Serial No. 271,085.

My invention relates to improvements in conneeters.` The obj ect is to provide improved means for connecting a strand, chain, rope or the like to another or to the same strand, 5 chain, rope, -or the like, or to any other objectat any requiredpoint; 1

The invention vcomprises 'a resilient element, and a pair o'f'disengageablfe connecting and lockingV elements 'associatedtherewith, whereby the resilient element may be arbitarily stretched, with the llocking elements in separated position, for the purpose Yof bringing the device into desired relationship with objects to be connected and whereby, upon release of tension,"the resilient element will contract to' bring the'lockingv elements into cooperating locking relationship. f

The device is especially applicable as a connecter `for tire chains, but is also equally applicable as a vconnecter for other objects.

The device will for convenience beV described as appliedto tiregehains.

Referring tothe drawings, which illustrate merely by yway'of example, a suitable embodiment of the invention f Fig. 1 is an elevation in part section of the device in contracted position with the lockL ingelements in position ready for locking engagement.r` y v Fig. 2 vis a similar view with parts inl preliminary ,positionV for adjustingV the chain.'

Figf3 is a similar view' with parts in expanded position. l

. yFige is a similar view showing ends of locking elements in final engagement. Fig. 5 is a cross-section on line 5, 5 of Fig. 1. Similar numerals'referto similar parts throughout thefseveral views. f

In the device as illustrated in the drawings, the4 spring 7 is ofhelical formation. To the ends of the spring are pivotally secured the locking elements 8 and 9, as at 10and 11, at a substantial distance from the outeriends of l said elements 8and 9. Said outer endsare provided with-means, such as holes 12, fo rl contraction of the spring,vas shown in Fig. 1. v.These hooks are adapted to cooperate yin locking engagement upon the expanding movement of the spring as indicated in Fig. 4.

It ywill be notedl that normally, after the parts assume the relative ypositions shown in Fig. 1, any force exerted on the spring 7, tending to stretch or expand the same, isin the natureof a pull or tension on the outer endsof the elements 8 and 9.

It will be lnoted that these elements 8 and 9 are pivotally connected or supportedto the spring ends at the points 1() and 11, which thus become the fulcrums of theleverl elements 8 and 9. It will now be seen that' a pull on the outer ends of one orboth of the levers, in the directions of the arrows, will cause a slight rotation of said lever or levers onits axis to move the hook formations 13 andylll toward each other into locking engagement, and that a continua-nce of such pull or tension vmaintains said hooks in` locking engagement.

In the specific application herein described, f

by way of example, the outer ends of elementsl 8k and 9 are adapted to be connected to the links not shown of tire chainsby means of the holes12.`l An intermediate portion ofthe chain is laid iiat upon the ground vand `the wheel rolled into position upon this portion.v The chain is then lifted up around the tire, oneside margin ofthe chain will easily assume apf proximately normal position.

The yother side will have topass around the youter periphery of the tirel which is only possible by stretching. This is accomplished by the connecter hereindescribed.

As a lconvenient method of operationthe spring is slightlystretched while-holding the hooksv 13 and 14; separated which is easily accomplished by manual pressure on the outer v ends of elements 8.and9. The pressureon said outer ends is then reversed and the spring allowed to contract with the'hoolr eleinentsback to back as shown in Fig. 2.. It

is now only necessary to push the connecter over the periphery of the tire; the hooks being ineffective to prevent the required stretching of the spring. After yso passing over the tire periphery, the spring; immediately conf tracts as far as possible thus holding the chain. in place. lt may be that the chain does not become evenly distributed until the Wheel begins to move. ils soon it does become evenly distributed, vthe spring will centract suiiciciently to bring the hooks into locking position as shown either in Fig. 1 or 1, after which a straight pull on the elements 8 and 9, in opposite directions as indicated by the arrows, vvill only make thelocking engagement between said elements more secure. Then it is desired to remove the chain, the disengagement ot the hooks may always be accoi'nplished by the proper manual pressure on the outer cn ds ot the elements 8 and 9.

It Will be noted that the portions or extensions a ot elements 8 and 9, adjacent the hooks 13 and 111, are so shaped as to engage the inner surface ot the spring formation to limit the separating movement of the hooks 13 and 14, so that the greatest opening or separating movement permitted is only suilicient to permit the point ot one hook passing the point of the other hook in the contracting movement ot the spring, and therefore the slightest force exerted on the outer ends ot S and 9 in direction ot the arroivs assures locking engagement ol the hooks. The intermediate portions are oppositely bent adapted to engage the opposite interior Wall of the spring formation to limit tie approach of the hooks 13 and 14 to said walls.

The transverse extensions of the hooks 13 and 141 have dimensions preferably as great as the interior space of the spring will permit.

The device therefore is very strong ot er@ treme simplicity, easy to manipulate and practically tree from accidental disengagement.

What I claim is 1. A connecter l'or a strand under tension, comprising a helical spring, cooperating elements extending into the spring .from eppoi site ends thereof, said elements having their adjacent ends provided with cooperating hook formations, each elementconnected to a spring end, one element having a rocking movement on a tulcrum provided by the s )rind connection with res )ect to the other element, so that the cooperating` hook formations may be moved' into and out ot engagement with eac-h other, each element lmving` a part beyond the spring end for connection to a strand, the connections o1"- an element with the spring` and With a strand being such that a straight line passing through the points ott spring and strand connection shall be at a substantial angle With the longitudinal line oit the element, so that the pulloi't' the strand on the element will nieve its hoolformation into engaging position with respect to the cooperating hoolr 'forniation 2. A connecter t'or a strand under tension, comprising a helical spring, cooperating elements extending into the spring 'from opposite ends thereof, said elements having their adjacent ends provided with cooperatingl hook formations, each elementconnected to a spring end, one element having a rocking movement on a 'tule-ruin provided by the spring connection, with respect to the other element, so that the cooperating hooi; torinations may be moved into and out of engagement with each other, each element having part beyond the spring end for connection to al strand, the connections o1: an ele ment with the spring and with a strand being such that a straight line passing through the points ot spring and strand connection shall be at a substantial angle with the longitudinal line ot the element, so that the pull of the strand on the element 'will move its hook formation into engaging position With respect to the cooperating hoolr formation and the increase ot said tension Will increase the etti-p ciency ot hook engagementu Y 3. Aconnecter for a strand under tension, comprising a helical spring, cooperating ele-y ments extending into the spring from opposite ends thereof, said elements having their adjacent ends provided With cooperating hook ormations, each element connected to a spring end, one element having a rocking movement on a Yfulcrum provided by the spring connection, With respect to the other element, so that the cooperating hook forma-` tions may be moved into and-out ot engagement With each other, eachreleinent having a part beyond the spring end for connection to a strand, the connections of an element With the spring and with a strand being such that a straight line passing through the points ot spring and strand connection shall be at a substantial angle with the longitudinal line ot the element, so that the pull ot the ystrand on the element willkmove its hook 'formation into engaging position With respect to the cooperating hook formation, theprojecting end of one element lalso providing means whereby the elements may bev manipulated to cause the hooks to pass each other in order to permit the arbitrary stretchingbi' the.

spring. Y

11. A connecter for a strand under tension, comprising a. helical spring, cooperatingelements extending into the spring from opposite ends thereof, said elements having their adjacent ends A provided] With cooperating hoolrtormationa each element connected to a spring end one element'havinga rocking movement on a ulcrum provided bygthe springconnection, With respect to the other element, so that the cooperating hook orma- Y tions may be moved into andout 01c engagepart beyond the spring end for connection to a strand, the' connections ot an element with the spring and With a strand being suchthat a straight line passing through the points of spring and strand connection shall be at a substantial angle with the loi'iitudinal line lment with each other, each element having a of the element, so that the pull of the strand on the element will move its hook formation into engaging position with respect to the cooperating hook formation, the said elements being so proportioned and connected with respect to the spring, thatitheir ends having the hook formation Will overlap when the spring is contracted to its normel'posithe spring is stretched from said position of rest. f

RALPH B; ZIEGLER. 

